Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-04
LANGSTON'S TRIAL.
EXPERT TEsTIMoNy-sURGgRYIs ABB
DoMINAL eUE.sHoT WOUNDS.
A Wide Field Covered by tho Examina-
tiOn-ssd Result OF an Ac-
cident.
Of the Richmond Di.patch.l

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG, VA, August 3, 1887.
The trial of Frank NJ. Langston, in
dicted for the murder Of john II. Ruff
fin, was continued in the Hastings
Court to-day. The whole day was de-
voted to medical testimony. The ex-
animation of DR.. II. q. Leigh, the
ci V coroner, as an expert, was con-
cludcd last night, and that of DIR. r.
ID. Mcllwaine, the physician who at
tended and who performed the opera
ton upon Ru1in, was commenced this
morning at 9 o'clock and continued
until nearly 3 o'clock, when the court
took a recess. When the court met
again Or. McIlwaine was still on the
vitness-stand. His examination was
about as rigid Gs that TO which any
medical witness has ever been subjected
i'll court here, and probably as prolong-
ed. The prisoners counselare managing
their case admirably in all respects,
and are making a most determined
and heroic defence for their client. DIR.
McIlwaine detailed the circumstances
of his being called to see Ruilin and Of
his attendance upon him until the time
of bis death. lie had advised the de-
ceased from the first that his condition
was desperate and, in all probability,
fatal. He had consulted with num-
Der OF the best physicians of the city as
to the propIiety of performing an ope-
ration, and the proposition WAS not
only approved but advised by them
all as the only hope--a forlorn One--Of
prolonging life. The operation was
performed in the presence OF some half
dozen physicians, several of whom
assisted. The inAamed and suppura-
tive condition Of the intcstnes, which
had been perforated and llceratcd by
the bullet of Langston's pistol, as de-
veloped by the operation, precluled all
hope Of recovery, and the only effect OF
the operation, in his opinion, vas to
prolong life for a few hours. His
opinion was that Ruflins death was I'M
doubleday caused by the builet-wolnd.
AS in the case Of DIR. Leigh yester-
day, SO to-day the examination covered
the whole field of surgery and medical
science as applied to the treatment Of
abdominal gun-shot wounds-thc pro-
gross of surgery in operations per-
formed in such cases, the statistics OF
death, rate of mortality, &c. Opera
tons of this character are compare
lively few, but their number Increases
with each each. In RuGin's case no
mortal science could avail, as the
physicians testimony would imply, and
the DOSt-mOrtCm was one of the most
offensive known i'll their experience,
and one Of the most dangerous.
There is not on record a ease of
such character as this where the patient
recovered unless by operation. All the
statistics that can be gathered in this
country, said the witness, 90 to prove
that there is not a case in which a man
recovered from wound in the smaller
intcstines. They all terminated fatally
unless operated upon. In this case
there we've two wounds in the smaller
intcstiDos-both being necessarily fatal.
Dr. McIlwaine then explained the deli
cate nature of the smaller intcstincsa and
the great danger of n gun-shot wound
in them, which always proved fatal un-
less operated upon.
The Doctors examination was con-
tinucd at great length, and WAS still in
progress after this letter closed.
1t is said that one or more of the
jurors were very sleepy, if not actually
asleep, during the progress of the eX-
animation to-day.
DIR. Mcllwaine, the only witness ex-
amined in the Langston murder case
to-day, was kept on the stand without
concluding his testimony until the al
joulnmeut OF court tonight Other
physicians are to be examined as ex-
peIts tomorrow. The Court has under
sdyisement motion to employ n
stenopapher to take down the evil
dCnce.
Mrs. Sarah Leonard, mother of Mr..
Charles Leonard, prominent hard
ware merchant, died this evening aged
eighty-six years. She came to this
country from Eogland in 1881, and two
years later settled in Petersburg, where
She has lived ever since.
James Davis (colored) was drowned
in Falling Run creek, Greens0ille
county, yesterday. He was sent across
the creek soon after heavy rain. On
his return the stream was greatly
swollen, but he attempted to recross.
He was swept with his horse and wagon
under the railroad culyert, and man
and horse were both drowned. The
body was subsequently recovered.
Abe Dickens (colored) was committed
to Jail at Hicksiord to-day for cutting
". ID. Smith (white) with a pocket
knife. Mr. Smiths wound is severe
but not dangerous.
SAD AND FATAL ACCIDENT.
A son of Mr.. j. w. Phillips, aged
eight or ten years, while playing in his
fathers undergrad yesterday after
noon fell from pile of lumber across
a barrel beneath, receiving internal
injuries, from which death resulted this
morning.
A telegram was received here to day
announcing the extreme illness, at
Williamsburg, of Mr.. Alfred Archer, a
well-known citizen and former mer-
chant of this city.
The captain OF the steamer George
aw, which was sunk in tho Apo
mattox river yesterday, with large
excursion party on board. states that
after all danger was over the boat was
injured and disfgured by some OF the
parties. ROBIN ADAIR.
Alexandria Notes.